Can lithium from batteries be recycled?

Release Time：2026-08-05 15:04:31 Source：Lithium Battery Recycling Machine Share：

The lithium in lithium-ion batteries can be recovered and reused. Currently, lithium-ion battery recycling technology and the industry have reached a relatively mature stage. Through dry disassembly and crushing (using lithium battery recycling machine) followed by wet extraction, the lithium in waste lithium-ion batteries can be extracted, recovered, and reused. The extracted lithium can then be reused in the production of new lithium-ion batteries. The main components of spent lithium-ion batteries are metallic elements such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese. Mining these metals from natural sources is prohibitively expensive and can have a significant environmental impact. This is particularly true for cobalt and lithium, two rare metals whose supply directly affects the development of the global new energy industry. Recycling lithium and cobalt can yield substantial economic returns. Failure to effectively process waste lithium-ion batteries not only results in a massive waste of resources but also leads to metal pollution, causing long-term harm to soil, water bodies, and the ecological environment. Therefore, the recycling and reuse of lithium-ion batteries hold dual value in terms of resource conservation and environmental protection.

Currently, the primary technical processes for lithium-ion battery recycling include comprehensive recovery methods such as physical disassembly, dry crushing, pyrometallurgy, and hydrometallurgical extraction.

Physical Disassembly

Recovered used automotive battery packs undergo intelligent disassembly. First, the used automotive battery packs are discharged via resistors to a voltage below the safe threshold to facilitate subsequent safe disassembly. Next, the coolant lines, high-voltage wiring harnesses, and low-voltage communication wiring harnesses are removed from the battery pack. An automatic feeder then transports the automotive battery packs to the disassembly production line. A laser is used to cut off the outer cover and screws of the automotive battery pack. Immediately afterward, a robotic arm grasps the top cover and sets it aside for separate collection. The exterior of the battery pack is cleaned and inspected. A specialized solvent is used to soften the adhesive, followed by further adhesive removal. The module fasteners are disassembled, and the battery modules are removed one by one. Professional equipment is then used to remove the casings from the disassembled modules, and the individual battery cells are extracted. This completes the disassembly process.
 

Dry Crushing

Used individual battery cells are crushed and sorted using a lithium-ion battery recycling machine. This process is the core step in lithium-ion battery recycling. First, a shredder is used to break down the battery casing, cells, separators, and other components into 2–4 cm chunks. The entire crushing process takes place under an inert gas protection system to isolate the material from oxygen and prevent safety issues caused by heat generated during crushing. The crushed material is then sent to a pyrolysis furnace for pyrolysis. The entire high-temperature pyrolysis furnace operates in an oxygen-free or low-oxygen environment, decomposing these organic materials into gases and a small amount of carbon residue. The gases generated during pyrolysis undergo secondary combustion and exhaust gas treatment. After meeting environmental standards, they are discharged at a high altitude. The material then undergoes multi-stage sorting. Magnetic Separation: Effectively removes steel casings and iron impurities from the batteries. Gravity separation and sorting utilize density differences to separate black powder from copper and aluminum materials. Following further grinding and fine screening, the Black Mass is effectively stripped from the positive and negative electrode sheets, thereby yielding Black Mass. The remaining copper-aluminum mixture is effectively separated using specialized copper-aluminum separators.


Pyrometallurgy

In certain specific situations, to achieve more thorough recovery of metal elements or to process specific types of waste lithium-ion batteries, this technology is often employed as a critical step in lithium-ion battery recycling. The Black Mass sorted by the lithium-ion battery recycling machine contains a small amount of organic matter and can be subjected to high-temperature roasting and reduction in a high-temperature roasting furnace. This effectively purifies the Black Mass by removing impurities. This process enriches the metal elements within the battery. This prepares the material for the subsequent metal extraction step.

 

Hydrometallurgical Extraction

To isolate valuable metal elements (such as cobalt, nickel, lithium, and manganese), hydrometallurgical extraction techniques are typically employed. Through chemical processes such as acid leaching, solvent extraction, and electrowinning, these metal elements are recovered efficiently and precisely. Hydrometallurgical technology offers the advantages of high recovery rates and relatively low energy consumption. The recovered high-value metal elements can be reused in the industrial production of lithium-ion batteries.


The above outlines the technologies and processes for recovering lithium from waste lithium-ion batteries. With the rapid development of the new energy vehicle industry and continuous advancements in battery technology, the lithium-ion battery recycling market is facing unprecedented development opportunities. Local policies are also increasingly supporting the new energy vehicle and battery recycling industries, driving the establishment of a comprehensive lithium-ion battery recycling system. On the other hand, lithium-ion battery recycling technologies and economies of scale are expected to reduce recycling costs and improve recycling efficiency.

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